Milking the system

Gary Norcott, Halling, Kent

12:01AM GMT 16 Nov 2003

The EU milk industry is in better shape than the UK's because, after the implementation of quotas back in the 1980s, France, Germany and most other EU states rationalised their industries to create a much more efficient system of production (News, October 26). Had the UK done the same (Mrs Thatcher was still encouraging dairy farmers to expand in the late 1980s), we would be in a much healthier state than we are.

It is only now that the UK has anything like the degree of consolidation required to make an efficient industry. Contrary to Mr Booker's assertions, it is precisely because of the inefficiencies of the industry coupled with overwhelming domination by the UK retail market that dairy farmers are in despair.